New School Hit By Vandals

A BRAND new primary school has been targeted by vandals who went on a £10,000 wrecking spree.

Juniper Green primary, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, is considered one of Scotland’s best performing primary schools and has a lengthy waiting list of parents desperate to get their kids enrolled because of repeated praise by inspectors.

The current school building is due to be demolished and a brand new premises was all set to open after the February school break.

But officials now fear the opening of the new building will have to be postponed until the massive clear-up operation is complete.

Edinburgh Council is now calling in experts to assess the massive damage inflicted by vandals who smashed up expensive worktops and destroyed toilet sinks during their spree.

The thugs broke in to the new purpose-built school sometime between last Thursday night and Friday morning.

Cllr Marilyne MacLaren, Convener for Education, Children and Families said: “I was saddened to hear about the vandalism at the new primary school at Juniper Green.

“I cannot understand why anyone would want to cause such malicious damage to a new school.

“Staff and contractors are now working round the clock to repair the damage but we are confident that the school will be able to open in time, after the February break.”

A police spokesman said: “This is a case of wanton destruction, which will cost thousands of pounds to repair.

“We are appealing for anyone who may have seen or heard something suspicious to contact police.”

Kids are currently housed in a run-down building surrounded by porta-cabins, and the school has to operate the nursery from a separate building

But the new school will bring all the children together under one roof for the first time in almost 30 years.